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Remember the iPod Sock? It came out in 2004 and was a lovely companion to the now-dead but very-much-missed-by-people-like-me iPod.
I had one. And it was exactly what it sounds like – a sock for your iPod. It was made from knitted fabric, and it ensured your inevitably already-scratched iPod was subjected to fewer scratches while you went about your day.
I’m fairly sure I opted for a cheapo third-party version back then, because the official iPod Sock was about forty quid. Because of course it was.
Fast-forward twenty years, and Apple has just released what is essentially the successor to the iPod Sock. They’re not referring to the iPhone Pocket in that manner, but it is, clearly, a nod back to the Sock.
It also costs as much as £219.95, and it’s getting a right old kicking on the internet. Obviously.
Today, though, I’m going to give the iPhone Pocket a chance. No, really.
What is the iPhone Pocket?
The iPhone Pocket is a collaboration between Apple and ISSEY MIYAKE. I’ll admit that I had to look up ISSEY MIYAKE, and rather than discovering an ultra-cool fashionista, I found what is apparently a renowned Japanese design brand that specialises in innovative textiles, pleating techniques, and minimalist, sculptural fashion.
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Yes, I did indeed copy and paste that from ChatGPT. And, no, I have no idea what any of it means.
Apple’s latest iPhone accessory features a singular 3D-knitted ‘construction’ (they used that word – not me) that’s designed to fit any iPhone and “other pocketable items”. The iPhone Pocket also features a strap – two, in fact, depending on your preference – that enables you to either loop it over your arm or swing it around your shoulder.
The idea is that your iPhone sits comfortably and safely within the iPhone Pocket thanks to a ribbed structure, which also allows the user to stretch the Pocket and peek at the iPhone’s display. Equally, I presume it’ll be relatively convenient for London phone-snatchers (although arguably more secure than simply placing your iPhone in your back pocket).
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As one might expect, there’s a bunch of colours to choose from, and you can order your very own iPhone Pocket on 14th November. It’s a limited release (although Apple hasn’t provided specific details on how long it’ll be on sale), and costs either £139.95/$149.95 for the short strap or £219.95/$229.95 for the long strap.
What the Internet is saying about the iPhone Pocket
The iPhone Pocket looks weird and is extremely expensive. So, of course, the Internet has jumped on it, arms and fists swinging. Immediately.
The commentary, in fairness, is not all bad. But most of it is.
The big tech press is questioning its practicability and the ease with which those London phone-snatchers might slip their greasy mitts into your iPhone Pocket. Others are also predictably taking swings at the pricing and what appears to be a huge disconnect between cost and utility.
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Then, there’s Reddit.
Hold onto your trousers.
“Can’t be real. A phone bag at a price of a high-end purse.”
““Just saw the iPhone Pocket, yes, really, a tiny knit bag for your phone. Welcome to the club, Apple, we’ve been doing 3D textiles for a few centuries now.”
“Omg. I finally opened the article and it really is just a piece of cloth. for >$200 why?”
There is some positive commentary, though.
“I don’t hate it? It’s really expensive for what it is, but as a designer handbag thing for your phone and something small it’s really quite nice.”
Some people and news outlets see the iPhone Pocket as being well-judged for a very specific audience. Clearly, it’s not a rugged utility case for your iPhone, but it is a fashion item that doubles as a handy smartphone protector.
The collaboration with ISSEY MIYAKE will of course have been considered very carefully by Apple, and for those who know what that brand is all about, it’ll make sense. I think.
But this does raise a couple of big questions.
Who is the iPhone Pocket for?
I don’t understand fashion at all. I never have. Therefore, by default, I do not understand what on earth the iPhone Pocket is.
That doesn’t make it pointless, though, and this is a trap we often fall into as humans. We see something we deem silly and immediately declare that it must be ridiculed.
Every product exists for a reason. Tim Cook didn’t wake up earlier this week and tell his team to make a new version of the iPod Sock for the iPhone. The iPhone Pocket will have been planned and budgeted to death. The audience for it will have been analysed, costed out, and demographic’d to within an inch of its life.
The question is who sits within that audience.
As noted, I have no idea. So, I asked ChatGPT, because that’s what you do in 2025.
According to Mr Terminator, the iPhone Pocket is for people who want “a fashion-forward way to carry their iPhone, rather than a traditional case or pocket”.
Nope, I have no idea what that means, either.
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The next suggestion made more sense to me. The iPhone Pocket is for fans of the ISSEY MIYAKE brand. Which must be quite a lot of people if Apple decided to collaborate with them on this and attach it to their most important product.
Then, we have the utility. Apparently, it’s for people who want to keep their hands free but still have quick access to their iPhone. As intimated by Apple, the iPhone Pocket doesn’t have to carry an iPhone, either, so it’s fair to suggest that it might be useful for people who carry small essentials but don’t want to put them in a big bag.
I asked my girlfriend what she thought about the iPhone Pocket, and after contorting her face uncomfortably while trying to figure out what on earth she was looking at, she did note that a common problem for people who put their phones in bags is finding them amongst all the other stuff. The iPhone Pocket is, therefore, a fashion-forward (check me out) way of solving that problem.
It’s also clearly going to be a limited run for Apple. So, you could get away with suggesting to yourself and friends (by way of justification) that it’s an investment.
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It isn’t, obviously, but it might become a collector’s item one day, at the very least.
However, when all is said and done, I think buying an iPhone Pocket is similar to the amount of memory you choose for your new MacBook. Bear with me here. If you know you want or need an iPhone Pocket, you know that’s the case. And who is anyone to tell you otherwise?
Final thought: Would I buy one?
No.
I can’t think of a more daft way for me to carry around my iPhone.
But that’s just me. I’m not cool. I’m a 45-year-old dad from Northampton who wears the same jeans he bought five years ago. Although you’ll more often find me wearing gym shorts and beat-up Nike trainers.
My iPhone spends most of its life in a case (although I have gone naked recently – more on that soon) and is placed in my pocket. I’m a simple guy in that respect, and when I first saw the iPhone Pocket, my reaction was “what on earth is that?”, rather than “finally”.
You’ll sit in one of those camps, too, and I’d love to hear which one – and why – in the comments, please!
1 Comment
The iPhone Pocket is an unusual product, and its reception reflects that. It sits at an intersection where technology, fashion, and branding overlap – an area that naturally generates divided reactions.
On one hand, the accessory does offer a distinct value for a specific audience. Its design, rooted in ISSEY MIYAKE’s textile expertise, may appeal to consumers who see their smartphone not just as a device but as part of their personal style. For people who prefer hands-free carrying or struggle to locate their phone inside a larger bag, the Pocket could provide genuine convenience. Limited-edition products also tend to attract collectors and brand enthusiasts, which further explains its existence.
On the other hand, the criticisms are understandable. The high price places the product closer to a fashion item than a practical accessory, which can make it appear frivolous or out of touch to those who prioritize functionality.
Concerns about theft, durability, and the basic utility of the design make the product harder to justify for the average user. For many people, a traditional case or pocket remains simpler, cheaper, and more secure.
Overall, the iPhone Pocket is neither inherently flawed nor universally useful. It is a niche product designed for a niche audience – one that prioritizes aesthetics, brand identity, and novelty. Whether it is worth the cost depends entirely on how much a person values those elements, rather than on any objective measure of necessity.
CYA my favorite bald S2